Marlene Florence Nelsen

Marlene Nelsen, 83, of Milford passed away on Monday, February 12, 2024, at the Kavanaugh House in Des Moines, IA. A mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, February 17, 2024, at the St. Joseph Catholic Church in Milford. A Rosary and Chaplet of Devine Mercy reading will begin at 8:30 at the church followed by a visitation up until the start of the service at the church. Burial will be held in the Calvary Cemetery in Milford. Arrangements are under the direction of the Robinson Funeral Home in Spirit Lake. Online condolences may be left at www.spiritlakefuneralhome.com Marlene Florence Nelsen was born on March 7, 1940, in Carroll, IA, to Frank and Mary Catherine (Schoeppner) Bellinghausen. She was united in marriage to Edwin Eugene Nelsen on April 4, 1961, in Maple River, IA. Together, they raised five incredible children, Gene, Cathy, Dave, Rod and Tim. Marlene filled many roles over the years. Whether it was helping Edwin run the family insurance business, running her own in-home day care or volunteering at St. Joseph Catholic Church, she always served with love and consideration for others. Throughout her life, Marlene also dedicated a substantial amount of time in service to the community. One way that she found to use her time and talent to help others was through sewing sleeping bags for homeless and disadvantaged children. Marlene made over 10,000 sleeping bags and distributed them with the help of nonprofits and faith-based organizations throughout Iowa, Nebraska and South Dakota. When she felt her time sewing was complete, she donated the materials and equipment to a nearby church to continue the mission of providing warmth to others. In her free time, she enjoyed gardening; there was not a vegetable or flower that she could not grow! She also enjoyed puzzles, making rosaries, being an active member of her church and cooking for others. Despite her many accomplishments, her most treasured work was spent raising her five children, becoming a grandmother and then, great-grandmother. Marlene took great pride in watching her children enter parenthood and build their own families. She was a loving, steady and supportive presence in the lives of her children, their spouses and all of her grandchildren. She is survived by her children Gene (Amy) Nelsen and their children, Ben, Alex, Nick, Alexandra, Peyton, and Carsyn, and their grandchildren Cash, Saylor, and Beckett; Cathy (Rick) Homard and their children, Rebecca, Jason, Aaron, and their grandchildren Joshua, Daniel, Michael, Theodore, Madelyn; Dave (Yatnia) Nelsen and their children, Austin, Sean, Ayden; Rod (Cozy) Nelsen and their children, Kennedy, Jazlyn, Noah; Tim (Jessica) Nelsen and their children, Rowan, Eddie, Liam; sisters, brother, sisters-in-law, nieces, nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews. She was preceded in death by her husband, parents, parents-in-law, brother-in-law, sisters-in-law, and several sisters and brothers.

Marlene Florence Nelsen

March 7, 1940 - February 12, 2024